Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on May 16, 2025, 10:00 AM JST
Editorial Board, Forest Circular Economy
Forestcircularity-editor
We aim to realize "Vision 2050: Japan Shines, Forest Circular Economy" promoted by the Platinum Forest Industry Initiative. We will disseminate ideas and initiatives to promote biomass chemistry, realize woody and lumbery communities, and encourage innovation in the forestry industry in order to fully utilize forest resources to decarbonize the economy, strengthen economic security, and create local communities.
In May, Konica Minolta Japan introduced "return seedlings" from Somano Base, a reforestation project based in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, and employees at all branch offices began to grow approximately 200 seedlings. The "return seedlings" program is a recycling-based reforestation model in which seedlings are grown from acorns picked up in the local area and planted back into the mountains in that area.
By returning seedlings that match the characteristics of the local vegetation, it is possible to create a sustainable forest that is easily rooted and adapts to the environment. The "return of seedlings" is not just a reforestation project, but is attracting attention as an approach to reforestation that is in harmony with the local ecosystem.
The introduction of this project can be considered a new model in which companies are substantially involved in the forestation process. Konica Minolta Japan's participation is an example of how corporate activities can be linked to solving local environmental and social issues. The opportunity for employees to be involved in growing seedlings and planting trees in the office will help raise environmental awareness and create a corporate culture that emphasizes sustainability.
Somano Base promotes the creation of disaster-resistant forests with the mission of "reducing human suffering from landslides to zero. Trees with strong roots increase soil holding capacity and reduce the risk of slope failure. From the perspective of disaster prevention, the value of such a land-based afforestation model is increasing.
